Police probe reports of shots fired in parkland near Spryfield school

A Halifax Regional Police K-9 unit arrives as heavily-armed officer gather to search for a suspect in the woods at the end of Fieldstone Street in Spryfield Wednesday afternoon. (ERIC WYNNE / Staff)

Elizabeth Sutherland school in Spryfield was under a hold-and-secure restriction around midday Wednesday as Halifax Regional Police investigated reports of shots fired in nearby wooded parkland.

HRP spokeswoman Carol McIsaac said it’s believed someone was hunting too close to the neighbourhood..

“We had several calls in relation to it and we’re still on scene investigating it and trying to clear the area,” McIsaac said just after noon.

“There’s quite a bit of parkland and then there’s woods. I know a lot of people hunt in there but most of the people who are calling just feel that they sound like they’re way too close. They haven’t given a specific distance in the calls.”

Doug Hadley, spokesman for the Halifax Regional School Board, said in an email that the “hold and secure” designation means no one is being allowed in or out of the school but people can move inside the building.

Elizabeth Sutherland’s students range from grades Primary to 9.

“Police contacted (the) school to inform them of their presence in the area and will advise when they are finished,” the email said. “Once word is received, school will resume regular operation.

“No person shall at any time: hunt, take or kill, or attempt to hunt, take or kill wildlife with a weapon or discharge a weapon within 804 metres of a school; discharge a firearm loaded with a rifle cartridge, single ball, or slug within 402 m of a dwelling, playground, golf course, athletic field, woods operation, place of business, agricultural building, or public building other than a school; discharge a shotgun loaded with shot, a crossbow or a bow within 182 m of a dwelling, playground, golf course, athletic field, woods operation, place of business, agricultural building, or public building other than a school; hunt, take or kill, or attempt to hunt, take or kill wildlife that is within 182 m of a dwelling, playground, golf course, athletic field, woods operation, place of business, agricultural building, or public building other than a school.”